Diagnosis of arteriovenous fistula by venous oxygen saturation: case report

Peripheral arteriovenous fistulas may produce significant deleterious hemodynamic effects yet their diagnosis may not be obvious. A case is described in which the diagnosis of peripheral arteriovenous fistula was suspected from pulmonary artery catheterization data. The fistula was then localized by means of venous catheterization performed at bedside and determination of oxygen content of venous blood above and below the fistula.